Monday, October 16, 2006

What lies beneath....


This past weekend, instead of heading to our alma mater for Homecoming, we decided it was a good weekend to finish unfinished business. Ever since the arrival of Caden, we have unfinished home improvement projects in every room. They're small things, yes, but ones that have been making me a little crazy over time. We found ourselves once more standing outside the bathroom, trying to decide how to make things better and more workable. Some of you may know we own a 90 year-old home, and the rooms aren't huge. The bathroom is no exception. Before Caden was born, we ripped out the carpeting that was in there (yes people, it was carpeted!!!) and painted the pepto-bismol pink tile white. We took down the white and pink floral wallpaper, and replaced the toilet. We laid new flooring. The problem was that the floor wasn't very water-friendly. It had begun to buckle in places, and what was lurking beneath the surface wasn't pretty either. It had only been since February that the floor had been laid, but it hadn't taken long for the water to permeate the surface and work it's way underneath.

We've been doing an Andy Stanley study in our small group called, "It Came From Within." As I watched Jerry rip up the floor yesterday, it reminded me how quickly our hearts can become like that floor...ever so slowly, things begin to seep in that shouldn't be there, and before you know it, an attitude, a comment, a biting tone...ugliness...pop up to the surface.

Our bathroom is looking much better. We bought inexpensive peel and stick tiles (that rival ceramic if you ask me) and Jerry and I finished putting it in last night. Not only does it look better, but we know it will keep the water away and preserve the floor underneath. I know this seems to be a simple analogy, but to me it was a powerful one. Next time something ugly comes flying out of my mouth, I'll be reminded of what lies beneath.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

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